Thumb tack tool



July 28, 1959 F, A, ROBERTSON 2,896,211

THUMB TACK TOOL Filed March 14,1958

52 INVENTOR.

// F ZG. 5.

WTOE/VEV United States Patent THUMB TACK TOOL Frank A. Robertson, Pasadena, Calif.

Application March 14, 1958, Serial No. 721,482

7 Claims. (Cl. 1-49.8)

This invention relates to tack handling devices and has special reference to hand held magazine type thumb tack positioning devices by the use of which tacks may be rapidly inserted and retrieved.

It is hardly necessary to call attention to the varying degrees of exasperation that accompany the use of the common thumb tack. Their awkward shape and sharp pointed shank renders them diflicult to handle, especially when the user also holds a thin paper element held in a position to be secured.

The primary purpose of the invention is to provide a hand held device from which thumb tacks in a holder or magazine may be serially advanced to an inserting position while their sharp pointed ends are completely encased.

Another object of the invention is to provide a small compact device which may be carried in the hand with the tacks frictionally retained in a magazine in convenient position to be dispensed individually as needed and advanced to an inserting and retrieving claw.

A still further object of the invention is to provide a combination tack holder and delivery claw including means for completely encasing the tack points until their arrival at the insertion point.

Another object of the invention is to provide a tack dispenser in which the tack inserting portion associating with a multiple tack holder is shaped as a claw to provide a tack retrieving lever.

Another object of the invention is the provision of a thumb tack dispensing tool embodying a magazine having a plurality of tack loaded chambers adapted to be moved consecutively into dispensing position as required.

Yet another object of the invention is in the fashioning of a simple hand held tack dispenser so designed as to protect the user from contact with the points of the tacks, the body of the device embodying for convenience a spirit level, pencil pointer, and a rule.

The invention with its features and advantages Will be further understood from the following detailed description and from the accompanying drawings.

In the drawings, which are to be regarded as illustrative:

Figure 1 is a perspective view of the presently preferred embodiment of the invention;

Figure 2 is a longitudinal vertical mid-sectional view of the device shown in Figure 1;

Figure 3 is a transverse section on the line 3-3 of Figure 2;

Figmre 4 is a longitudinal vertical mid-sectional view through an alternate form;

Figure 5 is a transverse sectional view taken on the line 5-5 of Figure 4.

The presently preferred embodiment of the invention shown in Figures 1 to 3, inclusive, of the drawings comprises a small compact device adapted to be carried in the operators hand. Plastic material has been found 2 to be suitable for use in its construction because of light weight, economy and because its flexibility enables it to be used as a tensioned retaining means for the thumb tacks.

The device constructed in accordance with the invention comprises two main parts, namely, a head or inserting and retrieving part, generally indicated by the reference character A, and a thumb tack holder or magazine B, in which the tacks are frictionally retained. It is desirable that the operating head A be substantially a claw at its end as shown,but the holder or magazine B may have its construction varied so long as its essential thumb tack retaining characteristic and delivery asso: ciation with the head A is retained.

The thumb tack holder or magazine B comprises a molded plastic block 10 separable from and also rotatable relative to head A, as will be later described in detail. Block 10 is formed with an open ended tack retaining slot or chamber 11 in each of its side faces. These slots 11 extending lengthwise of block 10 areof a width just slightly greater than the diameter of the shank of the thumb tack to be dispensed and of slightly greater depth than the length of that shank. The relationship is shown in Figure 2 where the heads of the tacks T are shown as resting on the block 10 adjacent the slots 11.

Formed integrally in block 10 adjacent each slot 11 is a flexible retainer member 12, generally resembling an overhanging ledge or shelf, which partially overlaps the heads of the thumb tacks carried in the adjacent slot. Retainers 12 are so arranged with respect to the tack heads as to press slightly thereagainst to retain the tacks frictionally in the slot with a force which may be overcome by slight moving force exerted on the tack head by the thumb of the hand holding the tool urging the tack towards the dispensing head A.

A detachable plate 13 covers the rearward end of block 10 and is retained by screws 14. Plate 13 closes one end of the slot but it is intended that the friction provided by the flexible members will be suflicient to hold the thumb tacks firmly in the holder in the absence of the plate.

Magazine B is rotatably connected to dispenser head A in order that a fresh supply of tacks may be quickly presented for advancement by the thumb to the claw head upon a particular slot or chamber 11 being emptied. A circular rod 16 projects rearwardly from head A through a closely engaging bore 17 in block 10. The outer end of bore 17 is enlarged at 18 and houses the enlarged head of a screw 19. A coil spring 21 is compressed between the body and the washer 20 abutting the screw head and at all times exerts a pressure which pulls the shaft 16 rearwardly in the bore 17 and the head A against the body B.

Means for locating the four tack retaining slots 11selectively in alignment relative to claw head A is provided by four rounded detents 23 formed on the rear face of head 3 and arranged around rod 16. Four equi-spaced detent seats 24 on the forward end of block 10 are positioned so as to seat the detents 23, the spring 21 exerting a force which urges the detents into their seats to prevent unintended relative rotation between the block and the head.

Head A as shown in the drawing comprises a body 25 which extends longitudinally from block 10, its forward end being bifurcated to form a claw 26, and its underside being sloped upwardly-and forwardly as indicated at 27 so that the claw may approach a surface at an angle. 7

The end of claw *26 is relatively thin or sharp and there are two small raised flanges 28 at its sides which gradu- Patented July 28, 1959 ally taper to finally merge with the relatively sharp edge. With the aid of these tapering flanges it is a simple matter to remove conventional wire staples.

The body 25 of head A is preferably slotted from its tip to a point adjacent its rear end as is indicated at 29. A screw 30 extends laterally through an opening in one jaw of the claw and into an aligned threaded opening in the other jaw, this screw being effective in cooperation with the resilient material, such as plastic, from which head A is formed to hold the jaws in slight frictional engagement with the shank of a thumb tack. In consequence, the tack is held firmly in place by the side walls of slot 29 while being dispensed as well as while being recovered after removal from a bulletin board.

The loading of thumb tacks in holder B is accomplished by first detaching plate 13 by releasing screws 14, if the rear plate is used. The use of the detachable plate is optional. The thumb tacks are placed in the four slots 11 from their ends until the holders or chambers 11 are completely filled.

The heads of the tacks are frictionally held by the flexible overlying retainers 12 by which they are partially overlapped.

The device is now ready for use with one of the slots 11 in exact alignment with slot 29 in head A. The operator holds the device in his hand with the thumb resting on the exposed portion of the head of the tack in slot 11 nearest guide slot 29 in head A. The operators thumb overcomes the slight friction imposed by the retainer 12 and slides the tack from slot 11 into and along slot 29 in head A until it is between the small flanges 29 of claw 26.

The flanges 28 at the forward end of the head impede the movement of the thumb and give notice that the sharp point of the tack is ready for insertion. Assuming that the paper or element to be secured is in position, the operator places the inclined surface 27 of the head A against the element and then presses against the head of the tack with his thumb, withdrawing the tool slightly, and applying further pressure to the thumb tack if necessary. The head may be used under some conditions to force the thumb tack firmly into secured position.

The above action may be repeated until the tack supply is exhausted in the slot 11 aligned with the guide slot 29. It is customary to advance the tacks occasionally toward the delivery end to expedite the thumb advancing and insertion operation.

In this the first embodiment of the invention, to bring a different and loaded slot 11 into alignment with the dispensing slot 29 in head A it is necessary only to rotate the holder B to bring the new slot 11 into alignment with slot 29. The new slot will be retained in position by the cooperation of the detents 23 and the seats 24. Tacks are then displaceable from the new slot 11 into the dispensing slot 29 as previously described.

In the second embodiment of the invention shown in Figures 4 and 5, the head A is exactly the same as in the first embodiment except in this instance it is formed integrally with tack holder or magazine B, the shaft 16 of the first embodiment and its cooperating bore 17, screw 19, washer 20 and spring 21 being entirely eliminated. In this embodiment the head A and the body B are fixedly connected by a reduced cylindrical portion 32. The body is formed as in the first embodiment in so far as the fourslots 11 and the overlapping tension retaining elements 12 are concerned, as shown in Figure 5. Again the outer end of the block may carry the retaining plate 13.

A rotatable tack delivery ring, indicated generally at 38, in Figure 4, is formed of two sections 39 and 40 connected by cooperating pins 41 and seats 42, as is shown in Figure 5. Ring 38 seats rotatably upon reduced cylindrical connecting portion 32 and has only a single slot 43 which serves to transfer tacks to the guide slot 29 in the head from the storage or supply 11 in the body with which it is firmly aligned. This is accomplished by positioning ring 38 so that its slot 43 is aligned with the loaded storage slot 11. A thumb tack is then pushed from slot 11 into ring slot 43 and therethrough into the dispensing slot 29 in head A; When the aligned storage slot 11 in the body B has become emptied and tacks are still to be-dispensed the transfer ring slot 43 is aligned with one of the other slots 11 in the body B by rotation of the ring and a tack from the adjacent loaded slot 11 is advanced into slot 43. The ring is again rotated to bring its slot 43 into alignment with the dispensing slot 29 and the tack is then transferred into the latter and advanced as in the first embodiment to the claw head. If desired, tacks can be re-stored in the aligned slot 11 which is in alignment with slot 29 by using the ring 38 as a transfer agency, in that case the tack in the slot 43 is dispensed into the aligned slot 11 rather than into the dispensing slot 29.

Retrieving secured tacks is accomplished by inserting the narrow split claw 26 under the tack heads and then using the device as a fulcrum lever to lift the tack. Retrieved tacks, of course, may be used as refills for the holders B.

The usefulness of the tool is increased by the presence of a spirit level and a pencil sharpener carried by the body B. Frequently in institutions, such as churches, bulletins are to be placed in boards by the use of tacks. The appearance of the board is enhanced if the announcements are arranged in parallelism with their top and bottom edges horizontal and their side edges vertical. A spirit level 45 is recessed into the face of body B and is so arranged that with the body extending horizontally it takes a mid-position in a well known manner. Equal spacing of the announcements also improves the appearance of the bulletin board and to aid in this connection a rule 46 extends along the body B adjacent one of its edges in the manner of a common ruler. The convenience of the tool is still further increased by the provision of the roughened surface 47, which may be sand paper, emery cloth or the like, on one side of the body B. Its presence enables the user to sharpen his pencil used to mark the spacings of the various bulletins on the board.

While the particular thumb tack tool herein shown and disclosed in detail is fully capable of attaining the objects and providing the advantages hereinbefore stated, it is to be understood that it is merely illustrative of the presently preferred embodiments of the invention and that no limitations are intended to the details of construction or design herein shown other than as defined in the appended claims.

I claim:

1. A thumb tack dispensing device comprising, a head member including a body portion gradually tapering to form a sharp narrow claw at one end, said body portion having a tack guiding slot splitting said narrow claw at its outer end, and means for supplying tacks to said head member including a rotatable multiple tack holder having plural tack supply slots, said plural slots having resilient retaining means frictionally and resiliently engaging said tack heads, and means to retain said head member and said holder with said tack guiding slot in alignment with a slot in said holder.

2. A thumb tack dispensing device comprising a head member including a body portion tapering to form a claw, said body portion having a tack guiding slot splitting said claw at its outer end, means for supplying tacks to said head member having plural tack supply slots, resilient retaining means frictionally engaging said tack heads to hold the same in said slots until forcibly dispensed therefrom, said head and said holder being rotatably connected and said tack holder being adapted to be rotated to bring said tack supply slots into operative alignment with said first named guiding slot in said head membet.

,3. A thumb tack dispensing device comprising, a head member including a body portion tapering to form a curved claw, said body portion having a tack guiding slot longitudinally of said claw, tack magazine means for supplying tacks to said head member including a tack supply holder formed integrally with said head member, a plurality of tack supply slots in said holder one of which registers with said guide slot in said head member, resilient retaining members overlapping said tack supply slots and engageable with the tack heads to prevent unintentional dispensing of said tacks, and a rotatable tack transfer member between said head member and holder to deliver tacks from one of said supply slots in said holder to said guiding slot in said head member.

4. A thumb tack dispenser of the type adapted to be held in the hand, a dispensing head formed with a longitudinally extending guide slot terminating in a bifurcated narrow end at which a tack is adapted to be positioned relative to a mounting surface, a tack storage magazine connected to said head, said magazine including a tack supply slot adapted to receive and store tacks for transfer to said head, a resilient friction retaining flange overlying the heads of tacks along one lateral edge only of said supply slot but leaving a suflicient area of said heads exposed as to enable the operator to slide said tacks along said slot by thumb pressure, said supply slot and said guide slot extending in the same direction and the latter being adapted to receive a tack dispensed from the former by the operators thumb and to guide same to said bifurcated narrow end for application to a support surface.

5. The constructiong recited in claim 4 characterized in that said magazine is rotatable relative to said head and includes a plurality of storage slots selectively alignable with said guide slot.

6. The construction recited in claim 4 characterized in that said magazine includes a plurality of parallel circumferentially spaced supply slots, a rotatable transfer ring positioned between said supply slots and said dispensing head and having a slot parallel to said supply and guide slots, said transfer ring being rotatable from a position in which its slot is aligned to receive a tack slid from a supply slot to a second position in which its slot is aligned with said guide slot and said tack can be slid into said guide slot.

7. A thumb tack dispenser comprising a multiple t-ack holder having a lengthwise tack shank guiding slot, a

resilient retaining member partially overlying multiple tack heads in said solt, and a head having a :tack slot aligned with said first mentioned slot, the outer end of said head being thin and of less thickness than the length of the shanks of the tacks to be positioned, and means adjusting the width of said slot so that the side walls thereof frictionally grip the shanks of tacks being dispensed.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 1,369,420 Gillespie Feb. 22, 1921 2,368,552 La Place Jan. 30,- 1945 FOREIGN PATENTS 290,135 Italy Nov. 9, 1931 

